YEAR OF THE FAMILY

Living the Liturgical Year

Celebrating Saints and Feasts to Enrich Hearts and Homes

August 20:  St. Bernard of Clairvaux, second founder of the Cistercians, patron of candlemakers and  beekeepers

This beloved Abbot is celebrated as the second founder of the Cistercians, the Mellifluous Doctor, the apostle of the Crusades, the miracle-worker, the reconciler of kings, the leader of peoples and the councilor of popes!  The beautiful Memorare is ascribed to him and he was known for his great devotion to Our Lady.  He was born to a noble French family in the 11th century and many of his brothers and other noblemen followed him to the monastery.  He was known for his eloquence in writing and preaching.  Read more about St. Bernard at http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/BERNARD2.htm .
 
St. Bernard was born near Dijon, the capital of the Burgundy region of France so we will celebrate with a recipe that includes this famous mustard.
 


RECIPE: St. Bernard Dijon Chicken (serves 6)
Ingredients1/2 cup butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
3/4 cup breadcrumbs
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
2-3 tablespoons parsley flakes
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in strips
Directions
Heat oven to 375F.  Melt butter in small saucepan with minced garlic.
After garlic has sauteed, add mustard and mix.  Let cool and whisk
mixture to combine until creamy.  Mix bread crumbs, parmesan
cheese, and parsley in shallow bowl or pan.  Dip chicken into butter-
mustard mix, then dip in bread crumb mic to coat both sides.  Place in
a glass 9x13 baking dish.  Bake uncovered 25-30 minutes, until juice
of chicken runs clear.         

Enjoy with a simple salad and a glass of Burgundy in honor of this illustrious saint!
 
READING: 
(family) Hide the Children, A Story of St. Bernard of Clairvaux by Brother Roberto, CSC
(high school +) The Family that Overtook Christ by M. Raymond, OCSO;
On Loving God by Bernard of Clairvaux  (free online at https://www.ccel.org/ccel/bernard/loving_god.html )
 
Memorare
Remember, O most gracious  Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided.  Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, OVirgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.  O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.  Amen.
           
Also this week:
The Queenship of Mary: August 22,  read more about this feast at:
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2018-08-22

St. Rose of Lima: August 23, patroness of Central America, needle workers, florists and more.  Read more about her beautiful life at:
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2013-08-23
                      

August 15:  The Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady into heaven, a holy day of obligation. 

This is a dogma of our Faith, that Mary was assumed into heaven, body and soul.  This is a beautiful feast day in honor of Our Lady’s perfect virtues during this month dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  Traditionally, there was the ritual of the Blessing of Fruits and Herbs on this day and people would bring herbs and flowers to be blessed and to give thanks to God for His great bounty manifested in the abundant fruits of the earth. 
 
It is fitting, then, to celebrate with a salad of fresh fruits (yes, a tomato is a fruit) and herbs.  Your kitchen will smell delightful making this side salad.  Serve with some rice and rosemary pork for a feast fit for the Queen of Heaven.
https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/main-course/main-course-pork/rosemary-pork-and-rice.html

 
RECIPE:  Assumpta Salad (from the book Twelve Months of Monastery Salads)
Ingredients:
Salad                                                                            Vinaigrette
8 medium ripe tomatoes, sliced                                   1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 red onion, finely chopped                                          5 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 cup pitted black olives, drained                                 1 clove garlic, minced
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil                                          salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
1/4 cup chopped fresh oregano
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 cup cubed feta cheese

Directions:
Whisk vinaigrette until thickened.  Let stand for 1 hour to steep garlic.  For the salad, arrange the tomato slices on 6 to 8 salad plates.  Sprinkle onion and olives among the tomatoes.  Sprinkle herbs evenly then add cheese cubes in the middle of each dish. Whisk vinaigrette just before serving and drizzle evenly.  Serve immediately.

 
Finish with an easy blueberry-strawberry cobbler if desired:
http://catholiccuisine.blogspot.com/2009/08/blueberry-strawberry-cobbler-in-honor.html

READING: 
(family) Mary, the Mother of Jesus by Tomie dePaola
(high school +) The Assumption of Mary by Kilian John Healy, O. Carm.

Prayer for the Feast of the Assumption
Father in heaven,
all creation rightly gives you praise,
for all life and all holiness come from you.
In the plan of your wisdom
she who bore the Christ in her womb
was raised body and soul in glory to be with him in heaven.
May we follow her example in reflecting your holiness
and join in her hymn of endless love and praise.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
 
Amen.
 

 
August 8:  St. Dominic; patron of falsely accused persons, founder of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans)
 
St. Dominic was born in Castile, Spain around 1175.  He was known for his learning and love of poverty and  founded the Dominicans around 1215.  He and his friars were instrumental in crushing the Albigensian heresy which was ravaging parts of Europe at the time.   The origin and spread of the Holy Rosary is attributed to this wonderful saint.  “The rosary is the most excellent form of prayer and the most efficacious means of attaining eternal life.”~Pope Leo XIII
To read more about St. Dominic and the rosary go to: 
http://www.catholic-pages.com/prayers/rosary_dominic.asp
 
Since penance was a focus of St. Dominic’s preaching, we can celebrate today with a simple, meatless meal as an act of penance for our persecuted brothers and sisters.

RECIPE: Simple Summer Spaghetti (from catholicculture.org)
(serves 4)
Ingredients:
2 medium tomatoes diced or 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
4 tablespoons (tbsp) extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup each chopped fresh basil and flat leaf parsley
pinch of dried red pepper flakes
1 pound dried spaghetti
2 medium zucchini, diced
1 large clove garlic, minced
salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste                                                  
Directions:  Place tomatoes, 3 tbsp olive oil, basil, parsley and                      
pepper flakes in a bowl and stir.  Season with salt to taste.  Set aside for about an hour for flavors to develop.  When tomatoes are nearly ready, cook spaghetti according to package directions.  Heat the remaining tbsp of oil in a skillet over medium heat.  Add zucchini and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally until zucchini is crisp-tender, 4-5 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper.  Drain spaghetti and transfer to a large bowl, add tomato and zucchini mixture and toss.  Adjust seasoning if necessary.  Serve warm or at room temperature

READING:  
(family) St. Dominic and the Rosary by Catherine Beebe; All Souls to Heaven: A Catholic Family’s Complete Guide to the Rosary by Tom Wall
(high school +) St. Dominic, the Story of a Preaching Friar by Donald J Goergen, OP        
Prayer for the Feast of St. Dominic
 
May God the Father, who made us, bless us. May God the Son, who redeemed us, send healing into our midst. May God the Holy Spirit, who gives us life, move within us.
 
May God give us eyes to see to God, ears to hear God, and hands to bring God’s work into the world.
 
May we walk with God and preach the word of God to all.
May the angel of peace watch over us and lead us at last by God's grace to the eternal Kingdom.
 

• Prayer of St. Dominic

 
Also this week:
The Transfiguration of the Lord: August 6,  read about the origin of this feast at
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15019b.htm
 
St. Clare of Assisi:  August 11, read about her at
https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-clare-of-assisi/